Recognizing Hashem’s Role In IDF’s Masterstroke
Re: “Israel Kills Iranian Intelligence Chief, Deputy; Strikes Refueling Aircraft in Eastern Iran” (www.JewishPress.com):
When I first saw those pictures of the high-rise apartment buildings in Tehran spewing plumes of fire and smoke, my initial thought was that it would be fodder for antisemites who would claim that Israel was no better than the Russians who indiscriminately bombed tall apartment buildings in Ukraine occupied with innocent civilians. But I knew intuitively that would not be correct.
A closer look at the targeted buildings confirmed what I surmised: The Israelis narrowly hit specific apartments housing top military leaders and nuclear engineers while avoiding adjacent residences. All the pundits on television credited the Mossad for acquiring the necessary pinpoint information to enable the IDF to precisely hit the designated targets.
In this overriding secular Weltansicht, almost nary a word about Hashem’s role. It was a validation of Moses’ warning against saying, “My strength and might of my hand gave me this power” (Deut. 8:17). The brilliant performance of the IDF was very impressive, but Hashem’s participation should not be ignored. We are told not to rely on miracles (Pesachim 64a). There is the principle of hishtadlut, the effort that must be initially applied, and G-d steps in to help those who help themselves. It is the blessing of wisdom from Hashem that enables Israel to continue to execute its objective to remove the danger from Iran and its multiple proxies.
I feel that I should consider even non-Jews who support Israel. Why do I say this? Ben Zoma asked, “Who is wise?” And answered: One who learns from everyone (Pirkei Avos 4:1). Further, in Psalm 118:7, the word “b’ozrai” is in the plural form, rather than in the singular, so as to include others who are not Jewish.
I want to express my appreciation specifically to one non-Jew in particular who supports Israel and recognizes Hashem’s part in Israel’s mission. He is not a high-ranking military person who is an expert in warfare or nuclear armament. Nevertheless, he is an influential leader and performs an action which any average person can perform. I am not sure he is knowledgeable in Hebrew, but he is familiar with the Bible and unabashedly quotes and urges carrying out Psalm 122:6: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Well-chosen by President Trump to be the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, I of course refer to the former governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee.
If only his example of acknowledging Hashem’s input would be adopted as the world’s dominant perspective, it would universally benefit all its inhabitants.
Barry Groeschler
Aberdeen, N.J.
Finally, The Snake Is Severed
Israel’s long-overdue strike on Iran on Thursday was the first step in the process of removing Israel’s greatest enemy from the Middle East and the world. PM Netanyahu is demonstrating to the Ayatollah and his cronies that Jewish blood is no longer cheap and that threats of annihilation are taken very seriously. Iran’s maniacal regime represents the venomous snake in the region and Netanyahu has begun the very necessary process of severing its head. This scenario may well prove, in its finality, that the snake is, in reality, a paper tiger, unable to protect its nuclear arsenal that was created to eliminate the State of Israel.
Once begun, this policy of preemptive action by Netanyahu cannot stop in midstream, as the world’s leftists and cowards will shortly demand. In simple terms, the time has arrived to finally deal with the Iranian monster – and that translates to total destruction of their nuclear capabilities. Nothing less can be acceptable. The time of talking, meeting, stalling, delaying and, most importantly, lying, is over. Only a very committed hater of Israel and the Jewish people can still stick to the obvious lie that their nuclear program is 100% peaceful. That lie will, I’m sure, be shortly spoken by many people around the world, including some in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Bibi Netanyahu is, thankfully, following in the footsteps of one of Israel’s heroes, Menachem Begin, who ordered the strike against the Iraqi nuclear reactor 40-plus years ago. Those who avidly and openly seek Israel’s destruction and the elimination of the Jewish people might learn an important lesson in the coming days – that the phrase “Never Again” is real, has teeth, and means exactly that, with no exceptions.
It’s also very important and, fortunately, well-timed, that Israel currently has a friend and supporter in the White House, not an unsure, doddering man whose Middle East advice came, in the main, from Obama holdovers embedded in the White House. They’re no longer there, thanks to Donald Trump. There comes a time when praying for peace becomes illogical and unrealistic, and our prayers at this time are for a strong, united, determined Israel doing what it must, not just to survive, but to prevail. Simply put: Am Yisrael Chai.
Myron Hecker
Via E-mail
